How to Turn Off Mcafee Endpoint Security

Written by Luigi Oppido | Edited by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: December 15, 2021

This wikiHow article will teach you how to disable the McAfee Endpoint Security Firewall on your PC or Mac. If you're using Windows, just right-click the McAfee icon in your system tray and select the "Disable" option. On a Mac, you'll find the option to disable your firewall by clicking the McAfee icon on the menu bar and selecting "Preferences." Be aware that turning off your Firewall allows anything and everything on your computer to communicate with the internet, making your data vulnerable to viruses and malware.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Windows

1
Right-click the McAfee system tray icon. There's an icon in your start menu or there's an icon down by the clock. The icon looks like a red shield.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Expert Interview. 30 September 2021.}
2
Click Disable Endpoint Security Firewall.^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Expert Interview. 30 September 2021.} If you already have the firewall disabled, you will not see this option.

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3
Answer the prompt (if applicable). You might need to tell your computer administrator why you disabled the firewall.^{[3]
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Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Mac

1
Click the McAfee shield on the status bar.^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Expert Interview. 30 September 2021.} This icon looks like a red shield.
2
Click Preferences. This will prompt a Preferences window to pop up.
3
Click the lock icon on the General tab. The General tab should be the default tab to open, but if not, click it to open it. Then you'll be able to click the lock icon.
4
Enter your password. To make these changes, you'll need to be able to enter the administrative password for your computer.
5
Click to disable the firewall. Once you disable the firewall, you can click the lock icon (which appears unlocked) to save your changes.^{[5]
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Research source}

Expert Q&A

Question

Is it possible to uninstall McAfee Endpoint Security on Windows?

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

Luigi Oppido

Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Answer

Yes! If you don't want to simply toggle it off, open the Control Panel and click on Programs and Features or Add/Remove Programs. Then, select the firewall and remove it just like you would any other program.